Chapter 5

General Analysis Procedure

Chapter 5 - General Analysis Procedure
Overview Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• The objective of this chapter is outline a general analysis
procedure to be used to solve a simulation. Regardless of
the physics of the problem, the same general procedure can
be followed.

• The problem on the following slide will be used to

demonstrate the general analysis procedure.
 Chapter 5 - General Analysis Procedure
…Overview Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

Given: A 1” thick spherical aluminum tank with a height of 180” and
radius of 100” tank is filled with water to a height of 80”. The
aluminum properties are E = 10E6 Psi,  = 0.3.
A

100 “ A
100 “
1“
Section Definition

m
lbf
80 “
  1.163279 c
in 3

Section A-A
Stress Convention
Question: Predict the membrane stress distributions in the
meridional (m) and circumferential (c) directions?
 Chapter 5 - General Analysis Procedure
…Overview Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

Every analysis involves four main steps: Preliminary
• Preliminary Decisions Decisions
– Which analysis type?
– What to model?
– Which element type?

• Preprocessing Preprocessing
– Define Material
– Create or import the model geometry
– Mesh the geometry

• Solution
– Apply loads Solution
– Solve

• Postprocessing
– Review results
– Check the validity of the solution
Postprocessing
Chapter 5 - A. Preliminary Decisions
Which analysis type? Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• The analysis type usually belongs to one of the following
disciplines:
Structural Motion of solid bodies, pressure on solid bodies, or
contact of solid bodies
Thermal Applied heat, high temperatures, or changes in
temperature
Electromagnetic Devices subjected to electric currents (AC or DC),
electromagnetic waves, and voltage or charge
excitation
Fluid Motion of gases/fluids, or contained gases/fluids
Coupled-Field Combinations of any of the above

•The appropriate analysis type for this model is a structural analysis!

Chapter 5 - A. Preliminary Decisions
…What to model? Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• What should be used to model the geometry of the spherical tank?
– Axisymmetry since the loading, material, and the boundary
conditions are symmetric. This type of model would provide the
most simplified model.
– Rotational symmetry since the loading, material, and the
boundary conditions are symmetric. Advantage over
axisymmetry: offers some results away from applied boundary
conditions.
– Full 3D model is an option, but would not be an efficient choice
compared to the axisymmetric and quarter symmetry models. If
model results are significantly influenced by symmetric
boundary conditions, this may be the only option.

An axisymmetric and a one-quarter symmetry (i.e. rotational

symmetry) model will be analyzed for this model!
Chapter 5 - A. Preliminary Decisions
…Which Element Type? Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• What element type should be used for the model of the spherical
tank?
– Axisymmetric model:
• Axisymmetric since 2-D section can be revolved to created 3D
geometry.
• Linear due to small displacement assumption.
– PLANE42 with KEYOPT(3) = 1
– Rotational symmetry model:
• Shell since radius/thickness ratio > 10
• Linear due to small displacement assumption.
• membrane stiffness only option since “membrane stresses” are
required.
– SHELL63 with KEYOPT(1) = 1
• Since the meshing of this geometry will create SHELL63 elements
with shape warnings, a mid-side noded equation of the SHELL63 was
used:
– SHELL93
Chapter 5 - B. Preprocessing
…Create the Solid Model Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• A typical solid model is defined by volumes, areas, lines, and
keypoints.
– Volumes are bounded by areas. They represent solid objects.
– Areas are bounded by lines. They represent faces of solid objects, or
planar or shell objects.
– Lines are bounded by keypoints. They represent edges of objects.
– Keypoints are locations in 3-D space. They represent vertices of
objects.

Volumes Areas Lines & Keypoints

Chapter 5 - B. Preprocessing
…Create the Solid Model Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• What geometry should be used to model the spherical tank?

Axisymmetric model One-quarter Symmetry Model

Chapter 5 - B. Preprocessing
Create the FEA Model Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Meshing is the process used to “fill” the solid model with nodes
and elements, i.e, to create the FEA model.
– Remember, you need nodes and elements for the finite element
solution, not just the solid model. The solid model does NOT
participate in the finite element solution.

meshing

Solid model FEA model

Chapter 5 - B. Preprocessing
…Create the FEA Model Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• What would the mesh of the spherical tank look like?

Axisymmetric model One-quarter Symmetry Model

Chapter 5 - B. Preprocessing
Define Material Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

Material Properties

• Every analysis requires some material property input: Young’s

modulus EX for structural elements, thermal conductivity KXX for
thermal elements, etc.

• There are two ways to define material properties:

– Material library
– Individual properties
Chapter 5 – C. Solution
Define Loads Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• There are five categories of loads:
DOF Constraints Specified DOF values, such as displacements
in a stress analysis or temperatures in a
thermal analysis.
Concentrated Loads Point loads, such as forces or heat flow rates.
Surface Loads Loads distributed over a surface, such as
pressures or convections.
Body Loads Volumetric or field loads, such as temperatures
(causing thermal expansion) or internal heat
generation.
Inertia Loads Loads due to structural mass or inertia, such as
gravity and rotational velocity.
 Chapter 5 – C. Solution
…Define Loads Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• What are the loads on the spherical tank models?

Edge Symmetry
constraint Tangential
Tangential Constraint*
Constraint*
Hydrostatic
pressure
Edge Symmetry
constraint Hydrostatic
pressure

Edge Symmetry
constraint
Axisymmetric model One-quarter Symmetry Model
* Tangential constraint used to allow comparison to Roarke closed form solution.
Chapter 5 - D. Postprocessing
Review Results Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Postprocessing is the final step in the finite element analysis
process.

• It is imperative that you interpret your results relative to the

assumptions made during model creation and solution.

• You may be required to make design decisions based on the

results, so it is a good idea not only to review the results carefully,
but also to check the validity of the solution.

• ANSYS has two postprocessors:

– POST1, the General Postprocessor, to review a single set of results
over the entire model.
– POST26, the Time-History Postprocessor, to review results at selected
points in the model over time. Mainly used for transient and nonlinear
analyses. (Not discussed in this course.)
Chapter 5 - D. Postprocessing
…Review Results Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• What are the circumferential stress results in the spherical tank
models?

Axisymmetric model One-quarter Symmetry Model

Chapter 5 - D. Postprocessing
…Review Results Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• What are the meridional stress results in the spherical tank models?

Axisymmetric model One-quarter Symmetry Model

Chapter 5 - D. Postprocessing
Verification Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• It is always a good idea to do a “sanity check” and make sure that
the solution is acceptable.

• What you need to check depends on the type of problem you are
solving, but here are some typical questions to ask:

• Do the reaction forces balance the applied loads?

• Where is the maximum stress located?

– If it is at a singularity, such as a point load or a re-entrant corner, the
value is generally meaningless.
– Are the stress values beyond the elastic limit?
– If so, the load magnitudes may be wrong, or you may need to do a
nonlinear analysis.
 Chapter 5 - D. Postprocessing
…Verification Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• How do the ANSYS results compare with Roarke?

Membrane Stress Distributions for Axisymmetric Model Membrane Stress Distributions for Quarter Symmetry Model

180 180

160 160

140 140

120 120

100 100
y (inches)

y (inches)
80 80

60 60
Circumferential Stress (Roarke) Circumferential Stress (Roarke)
Circumferential Stress (Axisymmetric) Circumferential (quarter symmetry)
Meridional Stress (Roarke) 40 Meridional Stress (Roarke) 40
Meridional Stress (Axisymmetric) Meridional Stress (quarter symmetry)

20
y 20
y
0 0
-10000

-8000

-6000

-4000

-2000

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

-10000

-8000

-6000

-4000

-2000

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000
Stress (Psi) Stress (Psi)

Axisymmetric model One-quarter Symmetry Model